Essential — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /i-ˈsen(t)-shəl/ es·sen·tial

Meaning & Definition of Essential

Essential (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or constituting essence:
  2. constituting the basic nature of a thing, inherent
  3. fundamental, basic

Essential (noun)

  1. something basic or fundamental —usually plural
  2. something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable —usually plural

Essential (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. impossible to do without

    "a well-stocked public library is essential for the well-being of a community"

    similar: all-important, critical, imperative, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital, of the essence
    related: prerequisite, compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory, consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty, basic, central, fundamental, key, organic, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent
    opposite: dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded
    near: undesired, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplus

  2. of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject

    "anyone with an essential knowledge of human biology can follow the documentary"

    similar: abecedarian, basal, basic, beginning, elemental, elementary, fundamental, introductory, meat-and-potatoes, rudimental, rudimentary, underlying
    related: primal, primary, prime, simple, crude, primeval, primitive, primordial, rude, uncomplicated, preliminary, preparatory, crucial, important, key
    opposite: advanced
    near: complex, sophisticated, complicated, convoluted, detailed, elaborate, extensive, intricate, developed, evolved, high, higher, refined

  3. being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing

    "an unquenchable belief in the essential goodness of most people"

    similar: built-in, constitutional, constitutive, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrain, ingrained, inherent, innate, integral, intrinsic, native, natural, in one's blood
    related: basic, deep-rooted, elemental, fundamental, congenital, hereditary, inherited, inmost, inner, interior, internal, characteristic, distinctive, peculiar, habitual, inveterate, normal, regular, typical
    opposite: adventitious, extraneous, extrinsic
    near: alien, foreign, accidental, coincidental, incidental, acquired, adscititious, superficial, surface, exterior, external

Essential (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable

    "the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude"

    similar: condition, demand, must, must-have, necessary, necessity, need, needful, requirement, requisite, sine qua non
    related: precondition, prerequisite, advantage, edge, plus, desideration, desideratum, wish
    opposite: nonessential, nonnecessity
    near: amenity, comfort, extra, extravagance, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity, surplus, surplusage

  2. general or basic truths on which other truths or theories can be based

    "this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming"

    similar: ABC(s), alphabet, basics, elements, fundamentals, grammar, principles, rudiments
    related: basis, bedrock, cornerstone, foundation, groundwork, keystone, underpinning, nitty-gritty, belief, canon, doctrine, dogma, faith, philosophy, axiom, law, precept, tenet, rule, standard, theorem
    near: details, trivia

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Essential

The most common words with a similar meaning to Essential:

all-important, critical, imperative, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital, abecedarian, basal, basic, beginning, elemental, elementary, fundamental, introductory, meat-and-potatoes, rudimental, rudimentary, underlying, built-in, constitutional, constitutive, hardwired, immanent, inborn, inbred, indigenous, ingrain, ingrained, inherent, innate, intrinsic, native, natural

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Essential

Words with the opposite meaning of Essential:

dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, advanced, adventitious, extraneous, extrinsic, nonnecessity

Related Words for Essential

prerequisite, compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory, consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty, central, key, organic, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent, primal, primary, prime, simple, crude, primeval, primitive, primordial

Near Antonyms of Essential

undesired, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, excess, external, extra, superfluous, surplus, complex, sophisticated, complicated, convoluted, detailed, elaborate, extensive, intricate, developed, evolved, high, higher, refined, alien, foreign, accidental, coincidental, incidental, acquired, adscititious

Word Forms of Essential

Derived words: essentialness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Essential

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Essential

Words & Phrases Containing Essential

essential amino acid, essential oil

Frequently Asked Questions about Essential

What does "Essential" mean?

"Essential" means of, relating to, or constituting essence:. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or constituting essence:. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Essential"?

Other words for "Essential" include all-important, critical, imperative, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary and necessitous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Essential" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Essential"?

There are 135 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Essential". Common alternatives include all-important, critical, imperative, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed and needful.

What is the opposite of "Essential"?

Antonyms of "Essential" include dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded and advanced. Near antonyms include undesired, unwanted, inconsequential and insignificant.

How do you use "Essential" in a sentence?

Examples of "Essential" in a sentence: "a well-stocked public library is essential for the well-being of a community"; "anyone with an essential knowledge of human biology can follow the documentary"; "an unquenchable belief in the essential goodness of most people".

Is "Essential" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Essential" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Essential" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Essential" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Essential"?

"Essential" is pronounced /i-ˈsen(t)-shəl/ and divided into syllables as es·sen·tial.